From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin
The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, has announced candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Sam Oboh, as winner of the Esan North-east local government bye-election with a sweeping 12, 672 votes against his closest rival John Yakubu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP who got 3, 314 votes.
It would be recalled that the election was cancelled twice due to violence perpetrated by rival political parties.
However, 22 persons, including the APC chancellorship candidate for Isi-south ward 8, in Uhunmwonde local government area, Ehis Abijie, have been arrested for various electoral offences by the police.
Abijie was said to have beaten up and injured several journalists at Atani primary school, along Ubiaja Road, and even forcefully seized a camera belonging to an editor with TELL magazine, Adekunbi Ero.
Others arrested included a policeman in mufti who was caught along with two persons with two ballot boxes containing already thumb-printed ballot papers.
The election was marred by violence and late arrival of voting materials, which got to most wards and units around 2pm, while accreditation of eligible voters was also delayed.
Election was stalled at Ivue primary school due to alleged irregularity in voters’ register.
Voting lasted beyond 6pm in some polling stations and intending voters who could not wait the long hours left feeling very disappointed.